Apparatus and Method to Attract Potential Customers to a Dual Screen Coupon Kiosk

Abstract

The dual screen coupon kiosk is an apparatus that attracts potential customers with a prominent display and provides the potential customers with an easy-to-use interface. The dual screen coupon kiosk comprises a touch screen, a card reader, a gift certificate scanner, a printer, a keypad, and a user login receiver. The card reader and the gift certificate scanner retrieve financial information from a user. The printer allows the apparatus to physically print a specific coupon for a user. The keypad or the user login receiver allows access to a specific user account. The software running on the apparatus attracts potential customers by displaying either an advertisement or a map of the shopping area on the top portion of the touch screen. The software provides the interface to browse the coupons through the bottom portion of the touch screen. The software primarily organizes the coupons either by categories or by merchant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual screen coupon kiosk comprises,
 a keypad;   a card reader;   a user login receiver;   a gift certificate scanner;   a touch screen;   a pre-programmed computer;   an internet-access module;   a printing paper roll;   a printer;   a printer output box;   an enclosure;   a user login card;   said touch screen comprises a top section and a bottom section;   said enclosure comprises a transparent portion and a wall mounting portion; and   said user login card comprises a cover, a printed two-dimensional code, and a password smart chip.   
     
     
         2 . The dual screen coupon kiosk as claimed in  claim 1  comprises,
 said transparent portion and said wall mounting portion being positioned opposite of each other on said enclosure; 
 said touch screen, said pre-programmed computer, said internet-access module, said printing paper roll, said printer, and said printer output box being located within said enclosure; and 
 said touch screen being positioned adjacent to said transparent portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dual screen coupon kiosk as claimed in  claim 2  comprises,
 said printing paper roll being rotatably connected to said enclosure; 
 said printing paper roll being inserted into said printer; and 
 said printer being connected above said printer output box. 
 
     
     
         4 . The dual screen coupon kiosk as claimed in  claim 1  comprises,
 said user login receiver, said printer output box, said gift certificate scanner, and said keypad being positioned coplanar to said transparent portion. 
 said user login receiver being centrally positioned on said enclosure adjacent to said transparent portion; 
 said printer output box, said gift certificate scanner, and said keypad being positioned adjacent to said user login receiver opposite to said transparent portion; 
 said printer output box traverses through said enclosure; 
 said gift certificate scanner and said keypad being connected on said enclosure; and 
 said card reader being laterally connected onto said enclosure in between said transparent portion and said wall mounting portion. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dual screen coupon kiosk as claimed in  claim 1  comprises,
 said keypad being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said card reader being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said user login receiver being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said gift certificate scanner being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said top section being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said bottom section being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; 
 said internet-access module being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer; and 
 said printer being electronically connected to said pre-programmed computer. 
 
     
     
         6 . The dual screen coupon kiosk as claimed in  claim 1  comprises,
 said password smart chip being located within said cover; and 
 said printed two-dimensional code being positioned on said cover. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprises the steps of:
 providing a touch screen, wherein said touch screen comprises a top section and a bottom section;   providing a plurality of coupons, wherein each of said plurality of coupons includes merchant information, product/service information, auxiliary coupon information, a print history, and a two-dimensional bar code;   providing a plurality of advertisements, wherein each of said plurality of advertisements is associated with a corresponding coupon from said plurality of coupons;   cyclically and prominently displaying each of said plurality of advertisements on said top section;   systematically displaying said plurality of coupons on said bottom section, wherein said plurality of coupons is organized into a plurality of categories, a list of merchants, or a list of popular coupons;   sorting said plurality of coupons by said auxiliary coupon information, wherein said auxiliary coupon information includes offer type, discount degree, date range, valid locations, and reviews;   prompting to browse through said plurality of coupons with said bottom section;   prompting to select a desired coupon from said plurality of coupons through said bottom section or through said plurality of advertisements on said top section;   displaying said merchant information, said product/service information, said auxiliary coupon information, and said two-dimensional bar code of said desired coupon;   physically printing said desired coupon onto a segment of a printing paper roll and placing said segment within a printer output box; and   updating said print history of said desired coupon,   if said desired coupon is physically printed on said segment of printing paper roll or if desired coupon is retrieved by a mobile computing device through said two-dimensional bar code.   
     
     
         8 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 7  comprises the steps of:
 providing said plurality of categories; 
 organizing said plurality of coupons into said plurality of categories by comparing said product/service information to said plurality of categories; 
 displaying said plurality of categories on said bottom section; and 
 prompting to navigate through said plurality of categories in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 8  comprises the steps of:
 prompting to choose either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating in order to arrange said plurality of coupons within a chosen category from said plurality of categories; 
 optimally arranging said plurality of coupons within said chosen category by either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating; and 
 prominently displaying each of said plurality of coupons within said chosen category with respect to current kiosk location, 
 if said location is chosen to optimally arrange said plurality of coupons. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 7  comprises the steps of:
 compiling said merchant information from each of said plurality of coupons into said list of merchants; 
 displaying said list of merchants on said bottom section; and 
 prompting to navigate through said list of merchants in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 10  comprises the steps of:
 prompting to choose either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating in order to arrange said plurality of coupons for a chosen merchant from said list of merchants; 
 optimally arranging said plurality of coupons for said chosen merchant by either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating; and 
 prominently displaying each of said plurality of coupons within said chosen category with respect to current kiosk location, 
 if said location is chosen to optimally arrange said plurality of coupons. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 7  comprises the steps of:
 calculating a print-through rate from said print history for each of said plurality of coupons; 
 compiling said list of popular coupons by comparing said print-through rate of each of the plurality of coupons; 
 displaying said list of popular coupons on said bottom section; and 
 prompting to navigate through said list of popular coupons in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 7  comprises the steps of:
 retrieving a unique identification code from a user login card through a user login receiver or from a keypad; 
 matching said unique identification code to a specific user account; 
 saving said desired coupon and other chosen coupons from said plurality of coupons to a print queue of said specific user account; 
 enabling said specific user account with other user accounts to access a plurality of group coupons; and 
 prompting said specific user account to select said desired coupon from said plurality of group coupons. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 13  comprises the steps of:
 providing category subscriptions, merchant subscriptions, brand subscriptions, merchandise subscriptions, and redeem period subscriptions for said specific user account; 
 providing a plurality of subscription coupons for said specific user account, wherein said plurality of subscriptions coupons is compiled according to said category subscriptions, said merchant subscriptions, said brand subscriptions, merchandise subscriptions, and said redeem period subscriptions; 
 prompting said specific user account to view said plurality of subscription coupons; 
 systematically displaying the plurality of subscription coupons in order to arrange said plurality of subscription coupons by said category subscriptions, said merchant subscriptions, said brand subscriptions, said merchandise subscriptions, and said redeem period subscriptions; and 
 prompting said specific user account to select said desired coupon from said plurality of subscription coupons. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 7  comprises the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of purchasable coupons and a plurality of purchasable gift certificates on the bottom section; 
 prompting to choose from said plurality of purchasable coupons and said plurality of purchasable gift certificates in order to buy a specific purchasable coupon from said plurality of purchasable coupon or a specific purchasable gift certificate from said plurality of purchasable gift certificates; 
 retrieving financial funds from either a card reader or a gift certificate scanner in order to be compensated for said specific purchasable coupon or said specific purchasable gift certificate; and 
 physically printing either said specific purchasable coupon or said specific purchasable gift certificate onto said segment of said printing paper roll and placing said segment within said printer output box. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprises the steps of:
 providing a touch screen, wherein said touch screen comprises a top section and a bottom section;   providing a plurality of coupons, wherein each of said plurality of coupons includes merchant information, product/service information, auxiliary coupon information, print history, and a two-dimensional bar code;   providing a store directory, wherein said store directory includes a plurality of store locations;   prominently displaying said store directory with each of said plurality of store locations on said top section;   prompting to select a specific store location from said store directory through said top section;   displaying a frontal picture of said specific store location and said plurality of coupons for said specific store location on said bottom section, if said specific store location is selected from said store directory;   prompting to view product/service-related store locations to said specific store location through said bottom section, if said specific store location is selected from said store directory;   systematically displaying said plurality of coupons on said bottom section, wherein said plurality of coupons is organized into a plurality of categories, a list of merchants, or a list of popular coupons;   sorting said plurality of coupons by said auxiliary coupon information, wherein said auxiliary coupon information includes offer type, discount degree, date range, location, and reviews;   prompting to browse through said plurality of coupons through said bottom section;   prompting to select a desired coupon from said plurality of coupons through said bottom section;   displaying said merchant information, said product/service information, said auxiliary coupon information, and said two-dimensional bar code of said desired coupon;   physically printing said desired coupon onto a segment of a printing paper roll and placing said segment within a printer output box; and   updating said print history of said desired coupon,   if said desired coupon is physically printed on said segment of printing paper roll or if said desired coupon is or if desired coupon is retrieved by a mobile computing device through two-dimensional bar code;   
     
     
         17 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 16  comprises the steps of:
 providing said plurality of categories; 
 organizing said plurality of coupons into said plurality of categories by comparing said product/service information of each of said plurality of coupons to said plurality of categories; 
 displaying said plurality of categories through said bottom section; and 
 prompting to navigate through said plurality of categories in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 17  comprises the steps of:
 prompting to choose either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating in order to arrange said plurality of coupons within a chosen category from said plurality of categories; 
 optimally arranging said plurality of coupons within said chosen category by either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating; and 
 prominently displaying each of said plurality of coupons within said chosen category with respect to current kiosk location, 
 if said location is chosen to optimally arrange said plurality of coupons. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 16  comprises the steps of:
 compiling said merchant information from each of said plurality of coupons into said list of merchants; 
 displaying said list of merchants on said bottom section; and 
 prompting to navigate through said list of merchants in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 19  comprises the steps of:
 prompting to choose either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating in order to arrange said plurality of coupons for a chosen merchant from said list of merchants; and 
 optimally arranging said plurality of coupons for said chosen merchant on said bottom section by either said offer type, said discount degree, said date range, said location, or said rating. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 16  comprises the steps of:
 calculating a print-through rate from said print history for each of said plurality of coupons; 
 compiling said list of popular coupons by comparing said print-through rate of each of the plurality of coupons; 
 
       displaying said list of popular coupons on said bottom section; and
 prompting to navigate through said list of popular coupons in order to select said desired coupon. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 16  comprises the steps of:
 retrieving a unique identification code from a user login card through a user login receiver or from a keypad; 
 matching said unique identification code to a specific user account; 
 saving said desired coupon and other chosen coupons from said plurality of coupons to a print queue of said specific user account; 
 enabling said specific user account with other user accounts to access a plurality of group coupons; and 
 prompting said specific user account to select said desired coupon from said plurality of group coupons. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 22  comprises the steps of:
 providing category subscriptions, merchant subscriptions, brand subscriptions, merchandise subscriptions, and redeem period subscriptions for said specific user account; 
 providing a plurality of subscription coupons for said specific user account, wherein said plurality of subscriptions coupons is compiled according to said category subscriptions, said merchant subscriptions, said brand subscriptions, merchandise subscriptions, and said redeem period subscriptions; 
 prompting said specific user account to view said plurality of subscription coupons; 
 systematically displaying the plurality of subscription coupons in order to arrange said plurality of subscription coupons by said category subscriptions, said merchant subscriptions, said brand subscriptions, merchandise subscriptions, and said redeem period subscriptions; and 
 prompting said specific user account to select said desired coupon from said plurality of subscription coupons. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of navigating a dual-screen coupon-dispensing interface by executing computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method as claimed in  claim 16  comprises the steps of:
 displaying a plurality of purchasable coupons and a plurality of purchasable gift certificates on the bottom section; 
 prompting to choose from said plurality of purchasable coupons and said plurality of purchasable gift certificates in order to buy a specific purchasable coupon from said plurality of purchasable coupon or a specific purchasable gift certificate from said plurality of purchasable gift certificates; 
 retrieving financial funds from either a card reader or a gift certificate scanner in order to compensate for said specific purchasable coupon or said specific purchasable gift certificate; and 
 physically printing either said specific purchasable coupon or said specific purchasable gift certificate onto said segment of said printing paper roll and placing said segment within said printer output box.